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USB is only faster in short bursts. Firewire can hold it's 400mbps data transfer rate steadier than USB 2.0 can.

Firewire 800 is still a pretty new technology that not everyone is adapting to. It's very expensive, too.

Firewire is definately more steady than USB. I'll never buy another USB optical drive enclosure again. Also, there are a bazillion gadgets available for Firewire 400, plus you can daisy chain them! (connect one Firewire device to another rather than tying up all your ports to one device). Nearly every digital camcorder supports Firewire 400 too.

As it has been said already, FW400 is faster in average speed than USB2.0, especially if you connect several USB devices through a hub, the bandwidth reduces rapidly.
FW800 isn't very popular, and Apple decided to put it only on their Pro hardware.
You can find it on PowerMacs and PowerBooks (15" & 17"). Why Apple doesn't have it on the 15" MacBook Pro is a mistery though, as the 17" has it.